Ballroom Classes

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

The World DanceSport Federation - WDSF awards the inaugural edition of its World DanceSport Games to Kaohsiung. The event will be staged in the port city in southwestern Taiwan from 15 to 21 September 2013.
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu and WDSF President Freitag signed the document that formally awards the WDSF World DanceSport Games to the Kaohsiung City Government on Thursday, 20 September, in a ceremony at the City Hall.
Born out of the vision of DanceSport as an all-encompassing brand, the WDSF-proprietary World DanceSport Games unite the different forms and styles of dance in a multi-disciplinary event that features top-level competition alongside with cultural programmes, galas and celebrations.
WDSF, its Associate Members (World Rock 'n' Roll Confederation; United Country Western Dance Council; World Baton Twirling Federation) and Collaborating Organisations (International Paralympic Committee Wheelchair DanceSport Committee, e.a.) venture to showcase the full breadth of DanceSport through contests at the highest international level. Some 700 athletes and 100 officials will be involved in the competitions.
During The World Games 2009, DanceSport was very well received by the people of Kaohsiung, with historic sell-outs recorded for the Latin, Rock 'n' Roll and Standard competitions in the fabulous K-Arena.
Now the port city sets out to host the first ever WDSF World DanceSport Games rom 15 to 21 September 2013.“DanceSport was one of the highlights in The World Games 2009, it drew more than 15,000 spectators. Next year, the city will step up efforts and invite people from around the country to enjoy more advanced and breathtaking dancing skills in a world-class competition,” Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu said upon formalising the city's appointment as official host. “We are endeavouring to bring Kaohsiung to the international community as a city with a sporting image, convenient transportation system, optimal venues and a group of enthusiastic people,” Chen added.
Speaking of the importance of the games to DanceSport's continued development, WDSF President Carlos Freitag expressed his satisfaction. "This is a historical achievement for our Federation," he said,"one that has only been possible thanks to our Vision 2012 project and the holistic view on DanceSport that the General Meeting adopted in 2011."

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Although Jezebel is often described as a sop to appease Davis after she didn't get Scarlett O'Hara, the Siren's research indicates this isn't the case. The play (produced in 1933, three years before Margaret Mitchell's novel was published) was purchased for Bette Davis by Warner Brothers in 1937, while David O. Selznick was still actively searching for a Scarlett and no decision had been made as to casting. Selznick saw Jezebel , no doubt accurately, as the Warners' way of cashing in on the anticipation surrounding Gone with the Wind and was furious. So in fact, according to GWTW historian William Pratt, Jezebel (which was released in March 1938, eight months before Selznick ever met Vivien Leigh) was the factor that put a period to any chance Davis had at the part. Davis herself always denied the "consolation prize" idea, but in her sunset years she loved to intimate she had come close to Scarlett. Alas, that isn't true either--she was never very high in the running. As early as 1937, when Selznick was working out distribution deals, he rejected an offer from Warner Brothers that was contingent on casting Errol Flynn and Bette Davis and told friends that he would cast Katharine Hepburn as Scarlett before he would consider Davis.